The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is investigating a possible contamination of Glen Creek after dead fish were found floating in the water Friday.
Rasmussen Spray Service workers applied two water treatments to a private pond at 1170 Willow Creek Drive NW in West Salem to treat algae and unwanted vegetation on Wednesday, said Katherine Benenati of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
On Friday morning, a woman found five dead catfish, four dead trout and a number of dead eels in her pond. She called NWFF Environmental, a group that specializes in marine spill cleanups and emergency response, to assess the impact of the herbicide and algaecide used in the treatment two days prior.The private pond leads to Glen Creek.
The two chemicals were identified as an algaecide called Captain XTR and an aquatic herbicide called Komeen Crystal, according to an Oregon Emergency Response System report. The system typically responds to emergencies involving hazardous waste and oil releases throughout Oregon.
Benenati said the incident is being investigated as a possible contamination from improper application of the algaecide and herbicide.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is investigating the incident and will determine whether to fine Rasmussen Spray Service for dumping five gallons of algaecide and 40 pounds of herbicide into the private pond.
The city of Salem has posted signs along Glen Creek warning people to avoid touching the water due to possible contamination.
Glen Creek flows into the Willamette River roughly four miles downstream, Benenati said.
“At this point, we don’t have any indication that it traveled downstream,” Benenati said.
DEQ officials are monitoring water conditions to determine whether the chemicals traveled downstream and harmed more fish or wildlife over the weekend.
Crews collected samples of water from the pond to measure for copper, one of the main ingredients in the chemicals used as part of the treatment. Analysts are also testing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, which can harm fish and other wildlife.
“So far the dissolved oxygen readings seem okay out there,” Benenati said. “An indication that it’s good is that they observed some bullfrogs in the private pond.”
The Department of Environmental Quality is coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency, the city of Salem, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and neighboring tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde, Confedered Tribes of Siletz, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.